Here
is a magnificent treat for all lovers of Russian opera. Do
not be misled by the meagre packaging. There are no accompanying
notes, merely the barest of track listings (opera only identified;
no aria specified, much less orchestra or conductor). Hidden
within this though is a real gem.

The
'Song of the Viking Guest' is the first item (Chaliapin –
or Shalyapin as he appears here). The song is played against
a black-and-white silent film that switches through a variety
of scenes. If it is atmosphere the DVDs producers are after,
they certainly succeed. There's even footage of scenes being
assembled (as if the rest of the DVD is being prepared for)
before a sudden and cruel cut to musicians warming up and
a brief back-stage conversation leads in to Maxin Mikhailov
as Ivan Susanin (from Life for the Tsar) before that
character's arrest by the Polish invaders. This is the first
of three successive excerpts from Glinka's opera, and make
sure you watch out for the massively camp soldiers! Mikhailov
then bids farewell to the character Antonida (sung by Nina
Guesielnikova). All this in delightful 'almost colour'. Mikhailov
is in the age-old tradition of Russian basses - huge voice
capable of the utmost tenderness.

The
strength of this DVD - or one of them - is the opportunity
to compare and contrast great singers. So it is that the third
Glinka excerpt has Mikhailov giving way to Mark Reizen for
the 'Forest Aria'. Reizen looks astonishingly severe in his
prayer to God for strength – this is real Russian singing!.

If
there is a complaint to be made, it is that there is only
one excerpt from Ruslan and Ludmilla – Alexei Krivchenia
as Farlaf in his Rondo. His diction is simply jaw-dropping
- taken at a real lick! Improbable moustache, too.

Actually
the visual delights of this DVD are almost limitless. The
painted set for Darghomizhsky's Rusalka is magnificent
for Aleksei Krivchenia's Miller's Aria. It is wonderful, too,
to hear this rarity these days. There is a toe-tapping gait
to this lovely excerpt that makes me, for one, want to hear
more.

But
of course Mussorgsky's Boris is going to take up the
lion's share and so it does (of Part 1 at least) with five
excerpts. First up is Petrov with 'Skorbit dusha', taking
his time and letting every word register. His upper notes
are huge. Sokolov sings Shuisky very well, but be warned there
is some distortion in this track. Alexander Ognivtsev takes
the hallucinations in the Clock Scene, a sort of Russian Macbeth.
Kozlovsky and Pirogov join forces for the St Basil Scene.
There is some flutter, but not enough to detract from the
superb children and the effective simpleton of Kozlovsky.
Female voices do not figure hugely in Boris, but Elena
Obraztsova is a superb Marina, resplendent of voice yet creamy
too; Arkhipova excels too in Khovanshchina.

Much
of the rest of the DVD is taken up by Tchaikovsky, beginning
with a lovely aria from Cherevichki sung by Grigorii
Bolshakov. This song of farewell, shot in black and white,
emerges most touchingly. The black and white of Pavel Lisitsian's
Mazeppa excerpt is crystal clear. This expressive aria
makes a gorgeous close to Part I.

Sergei
Lemeshev sings Lensky's Aria to begin Part II (the archive
footage of this concluding part stretches from 1930s to the
1970s). His fairly bright voice has a simply magical high
register.

Kozlovsky's
'turn' is of historic interest. He accompanies himself on
the piano before cutting to the stage. His voice is slightly
bleaty.

The
Prokofiev Vocalise (Kozlovsky with the Moscow Capella
Choir) is a curio and great fun, but the footage of Reizen
singing aged 90 (!) is wonderful. He takes Gremin's Aria.
Although he has trouble with the extreme bass end, he sings
marvellously.

Not
all is consistently fantastic – Panteleimon Nortzov rushes
his Onegin concert performance. Yet counteracting this
is Melik-Pashayev conducting Queen of Spades eloquently
yet clearly. From this same opera, Vishnevskaya excels. The
final track of the DVD is Bolshakov begging Petrova for the
secret of the cards (from the same opera). A great way to
end a great DVD.

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